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One in three users copying DVDs

Consumers opt for piracy over purchase

One third of US and UK consumers are making illegal copies of DVDs, according
to a recent study.

The survey of 5,331 citizens conducted by analyst firm Futuresource
Consulting found that 38 per cent of UK users and 32 per cent of US users had
copied a DVD disc within the past six months.

The number is up from 2007, when just a quarter of those surveyed admitted to
copying a DVD.

Of those who had copied discs, 63 per cent in the UK and 77 per cent in the
US said that they would otherwise have purchased the copied material.

"As studio revenues from DVD are in decline, protecting revenues is even more
vital than 12 months ago," said the report.

"The vast majority of these copiers admit that they would purchase at least
some of the titles on DVD if they had not been able to copy them, clearly
indicating the significant levels of lost revenue due to home copying."

The study also found that 18-24 year-old males were the most likely to copy
DVD material, while DVD players and recorders, along with PC software, were the
preferred methods for copying.

Movies were the most commonly copied media, followed closely by TV shows and
so-called 'special interest' DVD titles.

Copying of TV show DVDs saw the greatest increase. Some 61 per cent of users
had copied a show this year, compared to just 42 per cent in 2007.